Saturday, May 11, 2013

Modesty in Clothing

Growing up, we've always had a hard time shopping for clothes. Even winter clothes because it is so hard to find something that fits right and is modest. Summer is always the worst because of the shorts and swimsuits. How do girls feel comfortable wearing a bikini, I will never know. I've heard my fair share of comments about what I'm wearing is "ugly" or that I'm weird because I don't wear "normal" clothes, but in the end, that's just less Purgatory time for me. Yes, it hurts, but, I'm not going to compromise my modesty and purity because the world tells me these things. Nor am I going to lead others into sin because of my own actions and immodesty.

"You carry your snare everywhere and spread your nets in all places. You
allege that you never invited others to sin. You did not indeed, by
your words, but you have done so by your dress and your deportment. …
When you have made another sin in his heart, how can you be innocent?
Tell me, whom does this world condemn? Whom do judges punish? Those who
drink poison or those who prepare it and administer the fatal potion?
You have prepared the abominable cup, you have given the death dealing
drink, and you are more criminal than are those who poison the body; you
murder not the body but the soul. And it is not to enemies you do
this, nor are you urged on by any imaginary necessity, nor provoked by
injury , but out of foolish vanity and pride." ~ St. John Chrysostom

Even a brides' wedding dress is often immodest with the low and revealing neck lines. A wedding dress, white to symbolize the brides purity.

"After the year 1900, toward the middle of the 20th century, the people
of that time will become unrecognizable…..People’s appearances will
change, and it will be impossible to distinguish men from women due to
their shamelessness in dress and style of hair."-Prophecy of Saint Nilus

St. Nilus couldn't be more right. For example..Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj and Marylin Manson. Our society has changed so much in the past 50 years! Modesty is considered a thing of the past. Personal appearance has become the priority of women as they try to dress "attractively" so they can find "love". But by immodest dress, love is not present, lust takes it's place. In order to find a pure love, a girl must dress in a modest way which encourages respect from the right guys and repels the wrong type of guys.

"A woman's heart should be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her."

"Purity requires modesty, an integral part of temperance. Modesty
protects the intimate center of the person. It means refusing to unveil
what should remain hidden. It is ordered to chastity to whose
sensitivity it bears witness. It guides how one looks at others and
behaves toward them in conformity with the dignity of persons and their
solidarity. Modesty protects the mystery of persons and their love. It encourages
patience and moderation in loving relationships; it requires that the
conditions for the definitive giving and commitment of man and woman to
one another be fulfilled. Modesty is decency. It inspires one’s choice
of clothing. It keeps silence or reserve where there is evident risk of
unhealthy curiosity. It is discreet."